Dear SSJ Members,

NBR just released a new Q&A with Christopher W. Hughes (University of
Warwick) that examines Japan's evolving security strategies and how this shift affects the U.S.-Japan relationship. A link to the full Q&A and a summary are below.

"Japan's Shifting Security Environment"

Q&A with Christopher W. Hughes, University of Warwick

Link: http://m.nbr.org/onK9Ty

SUMMARY

The resignation of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and ascension of Yoshihiko Noda as Japan's new prime minister last month underscore efforts by the Democratic Party of Japan to refocus its policies and rebuild the party's public standing.

Yet Japan is facing more than a change in administration. More significantly, the country is confronted with the challenge of shifting both its defense strategies and regional priorities in order to maintain a stable security environment in the Asia-Pacific, especially in the East China Sea.

In an interview with NBR, Japan security expert Christopher W. Hughes (University of Warwick) provides insight into the country's evolving security environment and the effects of this evolution on the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Read the full interview to learn the answers to these
questions:

- What is the current state of the U.S.-Japan alliance?

- What is the likelihood for an arms race between India, China, and Japan?

- How will Japan's defense strategy change in the coming years?

Read now: http://m.nbr.org/onK9Ty

Tracy Timmons-Gray
The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) Seattle, WA